Most Dutchess and Ulster county residents will regain power by the end of Friday, according to Central Hudson Gas & Electric spokesperson John Maserjian.

By Thursday evening, less than 8,000 residents in Dutchess and Ulster counties remained without power, down from more than 30,000 Tuesday night after a macroburst hit the region.

As of 7:45 p.m. Thursday, 5,586 of 118,295 total Central Hudson customers in Dutchess remained without power, as did 500 of 88,881 customers in Ulster. Less than 1,000 of New York State Electric and Gas’s 15,621 customers in Dutchess were without power, and more than 1,000 of 5,348 Ulster customers.

In the towns of East Fishkill and Fishkill, which accounted for more than half of Dutchess’ outages, Maserjian said customers should have power restored by 10 p.m. Friday. Most others will be resolved at some point today, he said.

“The restoration times are directly related to the amount of damage sustained in those areas,” Maserjian said. “And it’s slightly different from location to location.”

A Central Hudson crew works to replace damaged utility pole at the intersection of Osbourne Hill Road, Jackson Street and Baxtertown Road in Fishkill on May 17, 2018. Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal

A Central Hudson crew works to replace damaged utility pole at the intersection of Osbourne Hill Road, Jackson Street and Baxtertown Road in Fishkill on May 17, 2018. Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal

Brian Antalek of Chelsea charges his phone at Glazed Over Donuts in Beacon on May 16, 2018. Antalek and his family were stranded on Route 9D due to fallen trees from Tuesday's storm. Without power he decided to hold up at Glazed Over to charge their electronics. Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal

The American Red Cross shelter set up at Fishkill Town Hall will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, the organization announced. Snacks, water and other basic necessities will be available.

Residents can pick up dry ice from Central Hudson at East Fishkill Town Hall, beginning at 10 a.m., and at Fishkill Town Hall at 11 a.m.

The National Weather Service confirmed a macroburst occurred along the I-84 corridor Tuesday afternoon. A macroburst is a thunderstorm downdraft that affects an area at least 2 1/2 miles wide; this cut a path 3 miles wide and 8 miles long.

The weather service also confirmed the presence of tornadoes in the region on Tuesday, in Saugerties, Newburgh and in two areas of Putnam County, said Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corp. in a statement.

In Ulster County, the tornado path moved through Saugerties before it crossed the Hudson River and ended near the Clermont State Historic Site in Tivoli, located in northern Dutchess, according to the weather service. The tornado was rated EF-1, which means wind speeds were 86 - 100 mph, and damage was moderate.

Most of the tornado-related damage was indirect, from trees falling on homes, other structures and power lines, the weather service said. But due to their size and scope, macrobursts can produce as much damage as a tornado, if not more.

Central Hudson said 470 electric line workers and nearly 180 tree trimmers are working today to restore electric service, clear roads and respond to emergencies. Mutual aid crews have arrived from as far away as Niagara Falls, Vermont and Michigan.

About 90 percent of NYSEG's Dutchess customers should have power restored by 7 p.m. Friday, with the remaining 10 percent the following day, according to the company.

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A downed tree on Baxtertown Road in Fishkill on May 17, 2018. (Photo: Patrick Oehler/Poughkeepsie Journal)

"NYSEG currently has 1,500 personnel engaged in restoration efforts including company, contractor and mutual assistance line and tree crews from Maine, New York, Pennsylvania, and Canada," the company said in a news release Wednesday night.

What to know

Area school districts that were closed Wednesday re-opened Thursday, with the exception of Fishkill Elementary School in the Wappingers district. It's closed due to lack of power, though other Wappingers schools are open.

Planet Fitness locations throughout the Hudson Valley are letting people affected by the storm to use amenities — showers, fitness equipment, massage chairs, electrical outlets, etc. — for free.

In Dutchess, Planet Fitness has locations in Wappingers Falls, Lagrange and Poughkeepsie.

In Orange County, the gym added its Newburgh facility to the list of ones that can be used for free by those impacted by the storm. It's located on North Plank Road.

In the Town of Fishkill, Supervisor Bob LaColla said roads were "messy but passable" Thursday morning. "Our next operation is to get all the debris off the roads.

"The effort that the volunteer firefighters have put out has been awesome," LaColla added. "Everyone is really pulling together."

Officials across the county lauded first responders, law enforcement, highway department staff and others for working around the clock.

In East Fishkill, the Lime Kiln Recreation Center is closed today because of an outage. But the town said the East Fishkill Community Center will be opened until 9 p.m. for anyone who needs water or a location to charge their electronics.

In Wappinger, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office is increasing the number of night patrols in "most devastated areas of the town, where electricity is out and homes are damaged," Town Supervisor Dick Thurston said on Facebook.

The extra patrols will "give added security to our residents through at least the weekend," Thurston added.

Meanwhile, state inspectors will be fanning out to survey damage, Thurston said.

Dry Ice and bottled water

Central Hudson is distributing dry ice and bottled water today at the following locations, beginning at the noted times through 5 p.m. or when supplies run out: